Method and apparatus for producing steel sheets



y 11, 1939- s. E. BLACK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEEL SHEETS Filed March 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I M a 9 M A- im.

ATTORNEY Jul 11, 1939;.

G. E. BLACK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEEL SHEETS Filed March 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M W W G. E. BLACK July 11, 1 939.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEEL SHEETS Filed March 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR QA-Mm ATTORNEY July 11, 1939. G. E. BLACK .1 5.917

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEEL SHEETS Filed March 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR v 8 BY j la/-4 QLMKM ATTORNEY July 11 1939 a. E. BLACK 2,155,917

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEEL SHEETS Filed March 19, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Z @10 INVENTOR BIY 8M clnaflf ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND AI'PQBATUS FOR PBODUCIN G STEEL SHEETS George E. am. Sewiokley, 1%., minoran n.

Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Penny Application March 19, 1938, Serial No. 196,934 9 Claims. (0. 184-61) This invention relates to a method of and to apparatus for producing flatcut-to-length and vzidlih rectangular steel sheets from a coil of strip s cc The invention has for an object to provide a novel method of and also novel and eflicient apparatus' for producing flat cut-to-length and width rectangular steel sheets from a coil of strip steel in a manner such that successive sheets may be rapidly and economically produced.

With this object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the method, in the apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specifica- In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, taken together, form a view in side elevation of the apparatus embodying the presentinvention, parts of the apparatus being shown somewhat diagrammatically; Figs. 4, 5 and 6, taken together, form a plan view of the same; Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7 with a portion broken away; Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in cross-section of part of the control mechanism 30 to be referred to, and Fig. 10 is a view in crosssection on the line l0--I0 of Fig. 8.

The practice followed in the past in. producing flat cut to-length and width steel sheets directly I from a coil of strip steel has been to make a-preliminary cut of a length of the uncoiled and flattened sheet, this length being substantially longer than the finished sheet required, usually about six to eight inches longer. The next step was to tzim the sides of the overlong sheet. It will be from the steel mills is not finished along the edges so that side trimming along the longitudinal edges of the sheet to the required finished width isnecessary. After the side trimming operation, the sheet was squared up with transverse cutters, one at each end of the sheet, and the surplus length was out off to produce the flat cutto-length and width steel sheets. -This method was uneconomical and time consuming.

In general the present invention contemplates the production of cut-to-length and width rectangular steel sheets from strip steel and preferably from a coil of strip steel, in a novel manner and by novel apparatus to the end that individual rectangular sheets cut to predetermined length and width within reasonable limits of accuracy may be produced in an eflicient, economical and preferably continuous manner.

In general, the preferred embodiment of the invention, as herein illustrated, is provided with an uncoiling and leveling unit indicated generally at 8 adapted to uncoil and flatten the steel strip and then advance the flattened strip through a transverse shearing unit l0 onto a gauge table I! between side guides l4, l6, past a control unit II and up against an adjustable stop mechanism indicated generally at 20. The control unit l8 actuates mechanism for clamping the side guidesdetermined position with relation to the transverse shear l0 while the strip is being severed. Thereafter, the stop is raised, the side guides release their grlp on the material and the severed sheet is advanced along conveyor chains 22 and 24 into a side trimming unit 26 adapted to trim the unfinished edges of the sheet during the movement thereof and while the latter. maintains its predetermined relationto the transverse shear l0, such that a median line of the portion of the strip which is to form the finished sheet is disposedat right angles to the shear l0, and thereafter tov advance the finished sheet across a delivery table 28 and onto a collecting unit 30 arunderstood that the coiled sheet steel as received a prising the leveling apparatus.

ranged on an inclined plane and adapted to receive the sheets as they are delivered from the machine and to pile them up in superposed relation. I

As herein illustrated, the coils of sheet steel 32 may be conveniently stored in a pit 34 from which they may be raised as required by pneumatically operated means, not shown, and placed upon runners 35 to guide them into position to be received by the decoiling and leveling unit 8. The decoillng and leveling unit 8 may comprise any of the commercial forms of apparatus now upon the market for this purpose, and, as herein illustrated, comprises a pair of feed rolls 36, 38

adapted to unwind a strip 40 of the material from the coil, supported upon rollers 42 and to draw the strip over a roller 45 and between adjustable side flanges 44 which may be arranged to suit the width of stock being worked upon. Provision is made for positioning the strip centrally and during the progress of the strip over the roller 45, the strip is kept straight and any camber existing in the strip is equalized. The feed rolls then ad- 'vance the web between the driven rollers 46 com- The decoillng and leveling unit 8 is driven continuously through connections from a motor 50 and inasmuch as the details of construction and mode of operation of such decoillng units are well-known in the art, further description is deemed unnecessary.

After leaving the leveling rollers 46 the strip or web passes over, a hump table 52, the purpose of which will be presently described. After passing over the hump table, the strip is advanced between pinch rollers 54, past the cutter knives 56, 58 of the shearing unit ill and between the side guides I4, I6of the gauge table I2. During this movement of the strip it" is supported by the conveyor chains 22, 24. As herein illustrated, see

Fig. 1, the pinchrolls 5 4 are normally separated to permit the uncoiled material to pass freely therethrough as it is advanced by the uncoiling unit 8. However, when the coil of material has been entirely unwound and the tail end of the coil has passed beyond the influence of the rollers 46, then the pinch rollers 54 are closedupon the material, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to advance the strip onto the gauge table I2. The rollers 54 may be operated in any usual or preferred manner, not shown. I

As the strip continues its advance along the gauge table, the forward edge of the strip engages an arm 60, see Fig. 9, comprising part of the controlling mechanism I8 whereupon the strip comes up against a stop gate 62 and the movement of the strip is terminated. Referring now to Figs. 5 and 9, it will be observed that the engagement of the forward edge of the strip with the arm or flag 60, raises the latter and through the linkage comprising an arm 64, link 66 and lever 68, operates to close a switch, not shown, within the switch box I0. As schematically indicated in Fig. 5, the conduit I2 leading from the switch box I to the shear motor I4, is provided with leads which, when closed by the operation of the flag switch, starts the shear motor in operation. At the same time, the circuit enclosed within the conduit I6 is closed to energize a sole-.

noid I8 for controlling the operation of the clamping guides I4, I6. As illustrated in Figs. and 10, oneof the side guides I4 is fixed, being supported upon blocks 80 mounted on tie pieces 82 forming part of the machine frame. The guide I4 is held in place by pins 84 which extend through the guide and into the block 80. Additional holes 86 may be drilled in the block to adjust the guide to suit the width of the coil being operated upon. The movable guide I6 is supported upon .the ends of a plurality of rocker arms 88 mounted upon studs 90 supported in brackets 92 attached to the machine frame. The rocker arms 88 form one arm of bell-cranks 94 which are connected by links 95 to operate simultaneously.

Normally, there is suflicient clearance between the guides to permit the strip to pass freely as it is advanced upon the gauge table. As herein shown, the mechanism for moving the guide I6 to clamp the edges of the strip between the guides is pneumatically operated and comprises an air cylinder 96 adapted-to rock a vertically mounted stud SI throughthe linkage consisting of the piston rod 98 and lever I00 secured to the lower end of the stud 9|, when the airisturned on. The air may be supplied from any convenient source through the pipe I02 and a solenoid operated valve I04 is provided to control the flow of air. Thus, when the circuit is closed to energize the solenoid I8, the valve I04 is opened and the movable guide closes inwardly to clamp the strip in predetermined relation to the shearing unit I0 It will be observed that the flag switch arm '60 is placed in advance of the gauge stop 62 and in operation, the shearing unit I0 is started when the switch I0 is closed. However, before the shearing blades engage the material to make the cut, the forward edge of the strip has come up against the stop 62 and the solenoid I8 has been energized to move the guide I6 into clamping position. The shearing unit then makes the nected to the stop gate 62 by a link I20.

cut and comes to rest. The shearing unit I 0 may comprise any of the standard commercial shears now upon the market and adapted for this purpose, and, as herein indicated, see Fig. '5, suitable control mechanism may be provided, such as a limit switch enclosed within the switch box I06 for stopping the shear at the end of each cycle and whichalso may close a circuit enclosed within a line I01 leading to a gear motor I08 for raising the stop gate 62 out of the path of the severed sheet. As shown in Fig. 9, the connections to the motor I08 include a crank II8 con- The stop is slidably supported between guides I22. A limit switch, indicated generally at I2I, may be provided for the stop gauge operating motor I08 which permits the latter to turn the crank- I I8 on the stop, 180 degrees at each operation, thus raising the stop at one operation and lowering it on the next. It will be observed that the control mechanism I8 and the stop mechanism 20 are mounted upon a movable carriage I24 provided with wheels I26 and the unit is supported on top of the side frames I28, I30 of the machine. Thus, the carriage may be moved in either direction to adjust the stop for the required length of sheet.

An additional switch within the switch box I06 may be provided which operates to open the circuit to the solenoid I8 and to release the clamping action of the side guide I6 when the shearing unit has completed its cycle of operawheel I36. Thus the severed sheet is permitted to pass on to the side trimming unit 26 being conveyed by the continuously running conveyor chains 22, 24. The conveyor chains are arranged' to run over sprockets H2, H4 and are arranged to be driven through connections from a motor H5 and gear reduction unit H6. The conveyor chains are arranged to run at a higher speed than the uncoiling and leveling unit 8 in order to obtain a space between the sheared sheet and the strip following.

Since the strip of sheet metal is being continuously unwound from the coil 32 provision is made for permitting the web to form a loop as indicated at I 40 when the forward edge of the strip comes up against the stop gate 62. To this end, the sheet is passed over the hump table 52 before entering the shearing unit, so that when the sheet comes up against the stop it will naturally rise upwardly and form a loop as illustrated thereby preventing the sheet from buckling. However, in practice, it was found that when thin gauge material was worked upon, the length of material between the shear and the stop would tend to hump up slightly, which resulted in a variance in the length of the sheets out. In order to overcome this difliculty, overhanging lips I42 are provided on the side guides I4, I6 which operate to hold the strip down and prevent the strip from buckling or humping up and thereby insure accurate lengths being cut.

From the description thus far, it will be 'observed that a cut-to-length sheet issever'ed iron the strip while the strip isv held in a predetermined position with relation .to the shear. the strip being clamped along its unfinished longitudinal edges, the stop gate his been raised and the side guide I8 has released its grip on the sheet. The severed sheet, having, been aligned transverse cutter and with one of its unt'rimmed edges against the stationary guide, I8, maintains its position of alignment against the stationary guide It while it is being advanced by the conveyor chains into the .edge trimming'mechanism. Theside or edge trimming mechanism 28 is operated continuously and may comprise any well-known commercial machine known' in the art as a "siitter and as herein showmincludes rotary knives I48 and caterpillarfconveyors, I48, I48 disposed in advance and in the rear oithe knives which are capable of holding the material firmly in a flat position and in alignment with the knives during the trimming operati'on to produce a side trimmed sheet free from camber and of accurate width. The unit 28 is also provided with the usual scrap cutter Ill and the pieces thus cut are permitted to drop into a scrap bin I82 located in the pit I58 directly below, the machine. After the tail end of the sheet has passed from under the flag switch arm 88, a circuit is closed which causes the motor I88 to start, closing; the gate 82 into a position ready .to receive the next sheet and resetting the entire control for the next cycle.

The sheet being delivered irom the slitter is received on the delivery table or roller conveyor 28' which may be hinged at I88 to permitremoval of the scrap bin. Guides I88 are provided -on the roller table between which the sheet passes. The sheetthen between the rollers I88, l82and between adjustable guides and onto the sheet piler 88. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 6, the. apparat for receiving the finished sheets and for automatically piling successive sheets in superposed relation is indicated generally at 88. The unit 88 preferably comprises a tiltable table, the forward end of the table being disposed below the line oithe flnished'sheets being delivered from the conveyor 28. The-unit is normally arranged at a downwardly inclined plane with relationto the delivery end of the sheet forming mechanism so that in operation, the sheets will ride down the inclined plane by gravity as they are received. The mdjor portion of the unit is disposed below the floor line, in. a .pit I88. As

herein illustrated. the unit may be constructed.

from structural members in the form of I-beams. In operation, the finished sheets are received onto the piler between adjustable gu'ides I82, I84

and on top of longitudinally disposed rails I88, I88. The adjustable guides I82, I, are mounted "upon transverse tie pieces I88 and are capable of being adjusted laterally to conform to the.

width of the delivered sheet. The tie pieces I88;

. are supported 'upon side frames I82, I88.

stop member 288 is mounted forlongltudinal ad- I justment, across the top oi. the rails I88, I88

and slots 282 are provided to permit the rails to be moved with relation to the stop when transverse adjustment is ellected.

The unit is supported at its forward end upon a cross shaft 288 pivotally mounted in brackets in a predetermined position with relation to the 288, 288 disposed below the floor line. Normally, the lower end of the piler rests upon a block 2I8, the position oi which determines the angu-' larity of the piler As herein shown, provision is' made for raising the lower end of the piler so that the unit will be in a horizontal position in order to conveniently remove a group of the Qnished sheets. Any, suitable means may be provided for this purpose, such as a pneumatically operated lifting device, indicated generally at 2I2. The air lilting device is connected to the piler by a link 2, the upper end of which is attached to the structure by a pin 2I8. In the operation of the device, after a predetermined number oi sheets have been piled up, the lifting device is operated and the piler pi'vots at 288 to present the piler in a level position.

From the description thus far it will be observed that the present apparatus for producing fiat cut-to-length and width steel sheets from a coil oi strip steel is adapted to produce fiat steel sheets cut square on all four sides ,within reasonable limits of accuracy as, for example, one-sixteenth of an inch, with a. minimum amount of waste or scrap material. It will, also be observed that the present method. employed eliminates the end trimming operations formerly required in the method employed in the prior art. It will further beobserved that an important feature of the present constrmtion resides in the provision of side guides on the gauge table between which the uncoiled and flattened strip is fed and which are adapted to automatically clamp and hold the untrimmed strip along itslongitudinal edges in a predetermined position with relation to the transverse shear and which are eflective in maintaining the alignment of the sheet after the shearing operation while the sheet is being'transierred to the edge trimming device thus enabling the unit to produce accurate lengths and widths of sheets directly from the coil. A further ieatureoi the present apparatus resides in the provision of the inclined receiving or collecting table whereby the sheets may be piled in superposed relation during the operation of the machine.

While the preferred form of apparatus has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is;

'1. The method of producing ilat cut-to -length and width steel sheets from a continuous strip thereof having untrimmed longitudinal edges and being of substantially uniform width comprising advancing the strip a distance equal to the length of the sheet to be cut, aligning and. holding the advanced portion or the strip in a predetermined position, shearing the strip trans-- versely to form therefrom an individual flatsheet of predetermined length while the strip is thus maintained in said predetermined position, conveying said individual flat sheet while maintaining its longitudinal position of alignment and trimming the edge portions of said sheet while being thus conveyed to thereby produce an individual flat sheet out to a predetermined length and width.

2. The method of producing flat cut-to-length and width steel sheets from a continuous strip thereof having untrimmed longitudinal edges and being of substantially uniform width comprising advancing the strip a distance equal to the length of the sheet to be cut, aligning and holding the advanced portion of the strip in a predetermined position, shearing the strip transversely to form therefrom an individual flat sheet of predetermined length while the strip is thus maintained in said predetermined position, conveying said individual fiat sheet while maintaining it in a position such that a median longitudinal line of the portion of the strip which is to form the finished sheet is disposed at right angles to the line of the transverse shear and trimming the edge portions of said sheet while being thus conveyed to thereby produce an individual flat sheet cut square and to a predetermined length and width.

3. The method of producing flat cut-to-length and width steel sheets from a continuous strip thereof having untrimmed longitudinal edges and being of substantially uniform width comprising advancing the strip a distance equal to the length of the sheet to be cut, aligning and holding the advanced portion of the strip in a predetermined position, shearing the strip transversely to form therefrom an individual flat sheet of predetermined length while the strip is thus maintained in said predetermined position, conveying said individual fiat sheet while maintaining it in a position such that a median longitudinal line of 4. The method of producing flat cut-to-length and width steel sheets from a coil of strip steel comprising unwinding the strip steel from a coil thereof, said strip having untrimmed longitudinal edges and being of substantially uniform width, subjecting the unwound portion of the strip to a flattening operation, aligning and holding the flattened unwound portion of the strip in a predetermined position, shearing the strip transversely to form therefrom an individual flat sheet of predetermined length while the strip is thus maintained in said predetermined position, conveying said individual flat sheet while maintaining its longitudinal position of alignment and trimming the edge portions of said sheet while being thus conveyed, said predetermined position of alignment being such that a median longitudinal line of the portion of the strip which is to form the finished sheet is disposed at right angles to the line of the transverse shear and in parallel alignment with the line of the cut of the edge trimmer to thereby produce an individual flat sheet cut to a predetermined length and width.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a transverse shear, conveying means for conveying successive individual metal sheets formed by successive operations of the transverse shear from an elongated metal strip, said conveying means being provided with means operative prior to the shearing operation for aligning and holding the metal sheets in predetermined relation to the transverse shear, side edge trimming means to which the individual sheets are successively presented by said conveying means, and means for holding the successive sheets in their aforesaidaligned positions during the side edge trimming operations. I

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a transverse shear, conveying means for conveying successive individual metal sheets formed by successive operations of the transverse shear from an elongated metal strip, said conveying means being provided with side clamps for aligning and holding the metal sheets in predetermined relation to the transverse shear, side edge trimming means to which the individual sheets are successively presented by said conveying means, and means for holding the successive sheets in their aforesaid aligned positions during the side edge trimming operations.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a transverse shear, conveying means for conveying successive individual metal sheets formed by successive operations of the transverse shear from an elongated metal strip, said conveying means being provided with side clamps having overhanging lip portions for aligning and holding the metal sheets in predetermined relation to the transverse shear and for preventing humping of the metal sheets, side edge trimming means to which the individual sheets are successively presented by said conveying means, and means for holding the successive sheets in their aforesaid aligned positions during the side edge trimming operations.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a transverse shear, conveying means arranged to convey successive individual metal sheets formed from a metal strip by successive operations of the transverse shear, said edge trimming means spaced from the transverse shear, means having provision for conveying each individual metal sheet without disturbing its predetermined axial position to present the forward and previously sheared ends of successive sheets to the side edge trimming means, and means for holding the successive metal sheets in such position during the side edge trimming operation.

9. In the method of producing flat cut-tolength and width steel sheets from a continuous strip thereof having untrimmed longitudinal edges and being of substantially uniform width, the steps which comprise advancing the forward end of the strip through successive increments each of the length of the sheet to be cut, shearing the strip transversely to form successive individual metal sheets of predetermined length, conveying successive metal sheets thus formed without disturbing their axial position relative to said line of transverse shear, and then trimming the side edge portions of said successive sheets while maintained in such position to form individual flat sheets cut square and of a predetermined length and width.

GEORGE E. BLACK. 

